Longitudinal boring machine



Nov. 16, 1965 s. c. TROWBRIDGE LONGITUDINAL BORING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 6, 1963 NOV. 16, 1965 s. c. TROWBRIDGE 3,217,815

` LONGITUDINAL BORING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fw MUM United States Patent O 3,217,815 LONGHTUDNAL BORING MACHNE Stanley C. Trowbridge, deceased, late of Breese, 1li., by Esther D. Trowbridge, administratrix, 990 N. Cherry, Breese, lill.

Filed May 6, 1963, Ser. No. 278,492 4 Claims. (Cl. 173--24) The present invention relates to earth boring machines, and more particularly to longitudinal or horizontal boring machines.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a hydraulically driven longitudinal boring machine which can be easily serviced and which is durable and relatively simple to construct.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for boring holes under paved roads, railway tracks and the like so that utility pipes can be laid beneath the roads etc. without breaking the surface thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a longitudinal boring machine which may be utilized with wheels or may be slid along a fixed track during the boring operation.

A further object `of the present invention is to provide a hydraulically driven longitudinal boring machine in which water is forced through a hollow drill rod and bit to the cutting area of the bit to flush debris from the bored hole, and particularly from the cutting area of the bit.

Still another object yof the present invention is to provide a boring tool wherein a hollow drive rod is surrounded by a water jacket which has a pair of seal members pressfitted to the ends thereof, so that the water which is forced into the outer jacket is retained therein, and in which the inner member is rotatable with respect to the water jacket.

These and yother objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

The present invention comprises a longitudinal boring machine including a fixed track, a base movable along the track, a hydraulically driven rotatable hollow drill rod on the base, a pressure jacket surrounding the drill rod and adapted to transmit pressurized duid to the hollow center of the drill rod, and seal means interposed between the ends of the pressure jacket and the drill rod.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts wherever they occur:

IG. l is a plan View of the present machine with the wheels removed,

FIG. 2 is a foreshortened side elevation partly in section of the machine with the wheels removed,

FIG. 3 is an end elevation showing the wheels installed in the machine,

FIG. 4 is a side elevation showing the machine set in the track,

FIG. 5 is a sectional View taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary View showing the unique seal means between the pressure jacket and the drive rod.

The present invention comprises a longitudinal boring machine 10 which is hydraulically driven by a conventional hydraulic motor 11 and valve control 12. These mechanisms are standard items of commerce and are not part of the present invention and therefore will not be described in great detail. The output shaft 13 from the hydraulic motor 11 is fastened by a key 14 to a drive rod connector 15. The drive rod connector 15 is secured to a hollow drive rod 16 by a drive pin 17. Therefore r-otary motion from the hydraulic motor 11 is directly transmitted to the drive rod 16.

The machine 10 includes a base member 18 upon which are mounted the valve control 12 and the hydraulic motor 11. Adjacent to the hydraulic motor 11 a thrust bearing block 19 is mounted on the base 18. A pair of thrust bearings 2t) are mounted on the bearing block 19 and are retained thereon by a thrust bearing ring 21. One end of the drive rod 16 is rotatably journaled in the thrust bearings 21. Adjacent to the other end of the base 18 a bearing block 22 housing a bearing 23 is mounted. The leading end of the drive rod 16 is rotatably journaled in the bearing 23.

Mounted on the base 18 between the bearing blocks 19 and 22 is a pressure jacket 24. The jacket 24 is provided with an inlet, such as the hose coupling 25, which is adapted t-o be connected to a supply of Huid (water) under pressure (not shown). The pressure jacket 24 encases the central portion of the drive rod 16 and is spaced therefrom by means of seal means 26 which are interposed between the inner surface of the jacket 24 and the outer surface of the drill rod 16 adjacent to each end of the jacket 24. The pressure jacket 24 is mounted on the base 18 by means of legs 27a.

The seal means 26 each comprise an innermost small seal 27 and an adjacent outermost wide seal 2S. The seal 27 includes an outer metallic housing 29 and an inner resilient sealing member 30 bonded thereto. The resilient portion 3i) includes a substantially knife edge 31 in sealing engagement with the drive rod 16. The seal member 27 is press-fitted to the inside of the pressure jacket 24 and the drive shaft 16 is passed through the center opening defined by the knife edge 31. A spring 32 retains the edge 31 against the drive rod 16. The seal 28 includes an outer metallic housing 33 and an inner resilient seal member 34 bonded thereto. The seal member 34 includes spaced substantially knife edges 35 in sealing engagement with the drill rod 16. The housing 33 is press-fitted to the inner surface of the jacket 24. A spring 36 retains the seal member 34 in engagement with the drill rod 16.

The resilient members 30 and 34 engage the drive shaft 16 in a sealing t, and when the seal lips 31 and 35 are worn, it is a simple matter to replace the seals 27 and 28 without having to tear out the conventional packing plate stud and nut and packing. Furthermore, the conventional packing retaining ring is eliminated from the inside of the pressure jacket 24.

The drive rod 16 is provided with a center opening 37 and a plurality of openings 38 in the side walls so that the fluid in the pressure jacket 24 is passed through the side wall `openings 38 and into the center opening 37. The fluid flow is indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2.

At the leading edge of the drive rod 16 a drive rod coupling 39 is adapted to receive a pipe coupling 40 having a bit 41 on the leading edge thereof. The bit 41 is provided with a fiuid opening in the cutting face thereof so that water from the pressure jacket 24 is passed through the center opening 37 of the drive rod 16 and through the hollow pipe coupling 4t) to the working face of the bit 41. The water flushes the debris from the working area and makes cutting much easier.

The carriage for the present machine l() is of two types, a wheel mounting and a track mechanism. The base 18 is provided with a sleeve 42 for receiving the axle i3 of a two-wheeled hauling mechanism fifi. The machine liti can be easily hauled or pulled from job to job by using the wheel mechanism 44.

During drilling, the base its is xedly mounted on a frame 45 defined by a horizontal bed 46 and upstanding ears 47 which mount rollers 4S (one set on each side of the 'bed 46) which are adapted to roll in a track mechanism 49.

The track mechanism 49 comprises pairs of vertically spaced longitudinal standards 50 and 5l (one set on each side) which defined a track for the rollers d3. The rollers d8 rolls along the bottom rail Sti. Side and cross frame channel members 52 connect the horizontal frame members t) and Si on each side of the track mechanism 49 and pass beneath the lowermost horizontal members Si to provide a base for the mechanism 49. On each end of the track mechanism 49 are mounted hollow pipe like members S3 which are adapted to have anchor pins 54 passed therethrough and driven into the earth to solidly position the track 49 in a fixed location during drilling.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A longitudinal `boring machine comprising a base, a hydraulic motor on said base, a hollow drill rod rotatably supported on said base and provided with a plurality of passages in the wall connecting to the center passage, means drivingly connecting one end of the drill rod to the hydraulic motor, a pressure jacket surrounding a portion of the drill rod and enclosing the side wall passages, means sealingly interposed between the ends of the pressure jacket and the drill rod, inlet means on the pressure jacket adapted to communicate a pressurized fluid to the interior of the pressure jacket, and a drill bit fastened to leading end of the drill rod, the working face of said bit being in communication with the center passage of the drill rod so that pressurized fluid from the pressure jacket is coinmunicated to the working face of the bit, wherein the seal means at the ends of the pressure jacket comprising inner and outer seals, the inner seals including a metallic housing press-fitted to the inside of the pressure jacket, and a resilient seal means supported by the housing and having a tapered surface inclined toward the center of the pressure jacket, the seal means being in engagement with the outer surface of the drill rod, and the outer seals being spaced outwardly from the inner seals, the outer seals including a metallic housing press fitted to the inner surface of the pressure jacket, and a resilient seal means supported by the metallic housing, said resilient seal means having a pair of spaced substantially knife edges in sealing engagement with the outer surface of the drill rod.

Z. A portable longitudinal boring machine for boring movement in a fixed track comprising (A) a horizontal base,

(B) a hydraulic motor supported on said base,

(C) a hollow drill rod rotatably supported adjacent to its ends on said base, said drill rod having a center passage and a plurality of side passages passing through the side wall thereof communicating with the center passage,

(D) means drivingly connecting one end of the drill rod to the hydraulic motor,

(E) a pressure jacket surrounding a portion of the drill rod and enclosing the side wall passages,

(F) seal means interposed between the pressure jacket ends and the drill rod, said seal means each comprising (l) an inner seal including a metallic housing press tted to the inside of the pressure jacket, and a resilient seal supported by the housing and having a substantially knife edge surface in sealing engagement with the outer surface of the drill rod, and

(2) an outer seal including a metallic housing press fitted to the inside of the pressure jacket, and a resilient seal supported by the housing and having a pair of substantially knife edge surfaces in sealing engagement with the outer surface of the drill rod,

(G) inlet means on the pressure jecket and adapted to communicate a pressurized iiuid to the interior of the pressure jacket,

(H) a drill bit fastened to the leading end of the drill rod, the working face of the bit being in communication with the outer passage of the drill rod so that presssurizcd fluid from the pressure jacket is communicated to the working face of the bit,

(I) a carriage including a lateral support member supporting said base, and vertical members rotatably supporting outwardly projecting lateral rollers, and

(I) a track structure comprising (l) pairs of vertically spaced horizontal rails trapping the carriage rollers therebetween, the rollers being movable along the bottom rails,

(2) frame members fastened to the horizontal members and laterally and vertically spacing the horizontal members, and

(3) anchor means for staking the track structure to the earth during drilling whereby the base member and the carriage are longitudinally movable with respect to the track structure during drilling,

(K) and means on the base for rotatably supporting an axle and wheel structure.

3. A portable longitudinal boring machine for lboring movement in a fixed track comprising (A) a base,

(B) a hydraulic motor on said base,

(C) a hollow drill rod rotatably supported on said base and provi-ded with a plurality of passages in the wall connecting to the center passage,

(D) means drivingly connecting one end of the drill rod to the hydraulic motor,

(E) a pressure jacket surrounding a portion of the drill rod and enclosing the side wall passages,

(F) means sealingly interposed between the ends of the pressure jacket and the drill rod, the drill rod being rotatable with respect to the pressure jacket,

(G) inlet means on the pressure jacket adapted to communicate a pressurized iiuid to the interior of the pressure jacket,

(H) a drill bit fastened to leading end of the drill rod, the working face of said bit being in communication with the center passage of the drill rod so that pressurized fluid from the pressure jacket is communicated to the working face of the bit,

(I) means on said machine for supporting `an axle having wheels mounted on the ends thereof to transport said machine, and

(I) a carriage supporting said base, said carriage being provided with a pair of rollers extending laterally outwardly from each side thereof, a track structure supporting said 'base through said carriage and rollers, said track structure including spaced horizontal rails open on one end and providing opposed obstruction free paths on which said rollers are positioned, lateral connecting members supporting said horizontal rails and stake members connected to the horizontal rails on the outer edges thereof and adapted to be fastened to the earth to iiX the position of the, track structure.

5 4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the base is pro- 2,027,063 vided with a lateral pasageway accommodating the axle. 2,604,304 2,835,472 References Cited by the Examiner 2,969,121

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 5/1930 Gattin 173-57 1/1934 Hubbard et al. 277-184 Reifel 173-57 Wilson 173-24 Gsborn 173-57 Wallace 173-57 BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A LONGITUDINAL BORING MACHINE COMPRISING A BASE, A HYDRAULIC MOTOR ON SAID BASE, A HOLLOW DRILL ROD ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID BASE AND PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF PASSAGES IN THE WALL CONNECTING TO THE CENTER PASSAGE, MEANS DRIVINGLY CONNECTING ONE END OF THE DRILL ROD TO THE HYDRAULIC MOTOR, A PRESSURE JACKET SURROUNDING A PORTION OF THE DRILL ROD AND ENCLOSING THE SIDE WALL PASSAGES, MEANS SEALINGLY INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE ENDS OF THE PRESSURE JACKET AND THE DRILL ROD, INLET MEANS ON THE PRESSURE JACKET ADAPTED TO COMMUNICATE A PRESSURIZED FLUID TO THE INTERIOR OF THE PRESSURE JACKET, AND A DRILL BIT FASTENED TO LEADING END OF THE DRILL ROD, THE WORKING FACE OF SAID BIT BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE CENTER PASSAGE OF THE DRILL ROD SO THAT PRESSURIZED FLUID FROM THE PRESSURE JACKET IS COMMUNICATED TO THE WORKING FACE OF THE BIT, WHEREIN THE SEAL MEANS AT THE ENDS OF THE PRESSURE JACKET COMPRISING INNER AND OUTER SEALS, THE INNER SEALS INCLUDING A METALLIC HOUSING PRESS-FITTED TO THE INSIDE OF THE PRESSURE JACKET, AND A RESILIENT SEAL MEANS SUPPORTED BY THE HOUSING AND HAVING A TAPERED SURFACE INCLINED TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE PRESSURE JACKET, THE SEAL MEANS BEING IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE DRILL ROD, AND THE OUTER SEALS BEING SPACED OUTWARDLY FROM THE INNER SEALS, THE OUTER SEALS INCLUDING A METALLIC HOUSING PRESS FITTED TO THE INNER SURFACE OF THE PRESSURE JACKET, AND A RESILIENT SEAL MEANS SUPPORTED BY THE METALLIC HOUSING, SAID RESILIENT SEAL MEANS HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY KNIFE EDGES IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE DRILL ROD. 